Key Facts

• The Townsite AI data center was the first in the U.S. approved on federal public land but is currently stalled after a judge ruled the government can’t use an old environmental review.
• Developers withdrew their initial application on private land and sought approval for adjacent federal land, which was granted by the U.S. Bureau of Land Management.
• Local residents in Boulder City oppose the project, concerned about damage to the environment and lack of community input.
• President Donald Trump supports the AI industry, seeing it as important for economic growth and global competition, especially with China.
• Nevada’s governor, Joe Lombardo (Republican), supports data centers if they have local approval; his opponent Aaron Ford (Democrat) opposes data centers on public land and prioritizes affordable housing.
• Both gubernatorial candidates want data centers to follow state rules like covering their own energy costs and protecting water supplies to qualify for tax breaks.
• Data center projects have become a prominent issue in the 2024 elections, prompting some states like Texas and Pennsylvania to pause or tighten approvals.
• Nevada voters from different political views—liberal and conservative—generally unite in opposition to the data centers in their communities.